End effector with staple cartridge ejector

ABSTRACT

An end effector for a surgical stapling device includes an anvil, a multiple use loading unit, and an ejector assembly. The multiple use loading unit is pivotally secured to the anvil and includes a channel member defining a cavity and a staple cartridge received within the cavity. The staple cartridge has a distal portion having an angled lower surface. The ejector assembly includes an ejector button that is supported on the channel member and engages the angled lower surface of the staple cartridge such that movement of the ejector button from an advanced position to a retracted position in relation to the channel member lifts the distal portion of the staple cartridge from the cavity of the channel member.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Description

The present disclosure is directed to a stapling device and, moreparticularly to a stapling device including a multiple use loading unit(“MULU”) with a cartridge ejector.

2. Background of Related Art

Surgical stapling devices for treating, i.e., stapling and cutting, bodytissue are well known in the surgical arts. Stapling procedures tosimultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, staple and cut tissue havebeen shown to be faster than conventional dissection and suturingprocedures and thus, minimize trauma to a patient.

In order to minimize cost associated with conventional surgicalprocedures that require reuse of the surgical stapling device during asurgical procedure, surgical stapling devices including an effectorhaving a MULU were developed. The MULU allows for reuse of the surgicalstapling device by replacing a staple cartridge of the MULU.

In current stapling devices that include MULU's, a spent staplecartridge is replaced by inserting a shipping wedge into a slot on theMULU to release the spent staple cartridge from the MULU. However, incertain procedures, including surgical procedures performed robotically,the end effector returns to a home position after the staple cartridgeis spent. In the home position, the clinician may have a difficult timeaccessing the slot making it difficult for the clinician to replace thespent staple cartridge.

A continuing need exist in the art for a mechanism that simplifiesreplacement of the MULU in a stapling device.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure is directed to an end effector for asurgical stapling device that includes an anvil, a multiple use loadingunit, and an ejector assembly. The anvil has a first tissue contactsurface that defines a plane. The multiple use loading unit is pivotallysecured to the anvil and includes a channel member that defines a cavityand a staple cartridge that is received within the cavity. The staplecartridge has a body having a second tissue contact surface and defininga knife slot, and a plurality of staple receiving slots positioned onopposite sides of the knife slot. The staple cartridge has a distalportion having a lower surface that is angled towards the plane definedby the first tissue contact surface in a distal direction. The ejectorassembly includes an ejector button supported on the channel member thatis movable from an advanced position to a retracted position in relationto the channel member. The ejector button has a body including an uppersurface that is angled towards the plane defined by the first tissuecontact surface in the distal direction. The upper surface of the bodyof the ejector button is positioned to engage the lower surface of thedistal portion of the staple cartridge such that movement of the ejectorbutton from the advanced position to the retracted position lifts thedistal portion of the staple cartridge from the cavity of the channelmember.

In embodiments, the ejector assembly includes a biasing member that ispositioned between the body of the ejector button and the staplecartridge to urge the ejector button to the advanced position.

In some embodiments, the channel member includes a distal portion thatdefines a recess and the ejector button includes a guide member that isreceived within the recess to guide movement of the ejector buttonbetween the advanced and retracted positions.

In certain embodiments, the recess and the guide member are configuredto limit the ejector button to linear movement.

In embodiments, the guide member includes a protrusion that isconfigured to retain the guide member within the recess.

In some embodiments, the ejector body includes a support member thatsupports the biasing member.

In certain embodiments, the support member is cylindrical and thebiasing member includes a coil spring, and a distal portion of the coilspring is received about the support member.

In embodiments, the end effector includes a drive screw and a clampingmember supported within the cavity of the channel member, and theclamping member is supported on the drive screw such that rotation ofthe drive screw advances the clamping member within the cavity.

In some embodiments, the ejector button includes a distal grippingsurface.

In certain embodiments, the distal gripping surface includes a pluralityof raised ribs.

In embodiments, the distal portion of the staple cartridge includes anupper surface that is contiguous with the first tissue contact surfaceand extends in a direction away from the plane of the first tissuecontact surface.

In embodiments, the clamping member supports a knife blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed end effector of asurgical stapling device are described herein below with reference tothe drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresently disclosed end effector in the clamped position;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of end effector shown in FIG. 1 in theclamped position in the clamped position with the anvil shown inphantom;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the MULU of the end effector shownin FIG. 1 with a staple cartridge separated from a channel assembly ofthe MULU;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the distal end of an ejector button ofthe MULU shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the proximal end of an ejectorassembly of the MULU shown in FIG. 3 including the ejector button shownin FIG. 4 and a biasing member with parts separated;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 2with the ejector assembly actuated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed end effector including a staple cartridgeejector assembly will now be described in detail with reference to thedrawings in which like reference numerals designate identical orcorresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is tobe understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of thedisclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions orconstructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the presentdisclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural andfunctional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted aslimiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representativebasis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ thepresent disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In this description, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer tothat portion of the device that is closer to a clinician, while the term“distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device thatis farther from the clinician. In addition, the term “clinician” is usedgenerally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, andsupport personnel.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the presently disclosed surgical stapling deviceend effector is shown generally as end effector 10. The end effector 10defines a longitudinal axis “X” and includes an anvil 12, a MULU 14, anda mounting portion 16. The mounting portion 16 facilitates attachment ofthe end effector 10 to a surgical stapling device (not shown). Inembodiments, the surgical stapling device may include a robotic surgicalsystem or a handheld device for actuating the end effector 10. For amore detailed description of a powered handheld device for actuating theend effector 10, see, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0310134which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The MULU 14 includes a channel member 20 and a replaceable staplecartridge 22. The channel member 20 is pivotally coupled to the anvil 12(12) and is movable in relation to the anvil 12 to move the end effector10 between spaced and clamped positions. The channel member 20 includesa base wall 24 (FIG. 3) and spaced side walls 26 that define a cavity 28(FIG. 3) that receives the staple cartridge 22. In embodiments, each ofthe side walls 26 of the channel member 20 defines a notch 32 andincludes an overhang 34 that extends into the cavity 28. The overhangs34 and the notches 32 are positioned and configured to retain, align,and support the staple cartridge 22 within the cavity 28 of the channelmember 20 as described in further detail below.

The anvil 12 defines a tissue contact surface 12 a (FIG. 1) and has aproximal portion 13 a and a distal portion 13 b. The tissue contactsurface 12 a defines a plane that extends in a direction that isparallel to the longitudinal axis “X” of the end effector 10 when theend effector 10 is in the clamped position.

The staple cartridge 22 includes a body 40 that defines linear rows ofstaple receiving slots 42. The linear rows of staple receiving slots 42are positioned on opposite sides of a knife slot 44. The staplereceiving slots 42 and the knife slot 44 open onto a tissue contactsurface 46 of the staple cartridge 22. The body 40 of the staplecartridge 22 includes protrusions 50 that extend outwardly from the body40 of the staple cartridge 22 and are positioned to be received withinthe notches 32 (FIG. 3) in the side walls 26 of the channel member 20.The body 40 of the staple cartridge 22 includes a distal portion 52 thathas an upper surface 54 and a lower surface 56 (FIG. 6.) The uppersurface 54 of the body 40 is contiguous with the tissue contact surface46 of the anvil 12 and is angled away from the plane defined by thetissue contact surface 46 in the distal direction. The lower surface 56of the body 40 extends towards the plane defined by the tissue contactsurface 46 of the anvil 12 in the distal direction and intersects theupper surface 54 of the body 40 at the distal end of the body 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, the MULU 14 includes a clamping member 60 and adrive member 62. In embodiments, the drive member 62 defines a screwshaft 64 and the clamping member 60 defines a threaded bore (not shown)that receives the screw shaft 64 and is rotatable to advance theclamping member 60 through the channel member 20. The screw shaft 64 hasa distal end 64 a that is rotatably supported on a bearing 70. Thebearing 70 is supported on the base wall 24 of the channel member 20. Insome embodiments, the clamping member 60 is in the form of an I-beam andsupports a knife blade 72. The clamping member 60 is movable through thechannel member 60 in response to rotation of the screw shaft 64 todefine the maximum tissue gap between the tissue contact surfaces 12 aand 46 of the anvil 12 and the staple cartridge 22.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the channel member 20 has a distal portion 72(FIG. 3) that defines a recess 74 (FIG. 6). The distal portion 72 of thechannel member 20 supports a cartridge ejector assembly 76 (FIG. 5) thatincludes an ejector button 80 and a biasing member 82. The ejectorbutton 80 includes a body 84 including an upper surface 86, a guidemember 88 that extends proximally from the body 84, and a support member90. The upper surface 86 is angled downwardly in a proximal directionand is positioned in abutting relation to the lower surface 56 of thestaple cartridge 22. The guide member 88 is received within the recess74 of the channel member 20 and is dimensioned to confine the ejectorbutton 80 to linear movement within the recess 74 in relation to thechannel member 20. In embodiments, the guide member 88 includes adownwardly extending protrusion or hook 92 that is positioned within therecess 74 of the channel member 20 to prevent the ejector button 80 frombeing withdrawn from the distal end of the recess 74.

In embodiments, the support member 90 includes a cylindrical body 93(FIG. 5) and the biasing member 82 includes a coil spring 94. The coilspring 94 has a distal end that is supported about the support member 90and presses against the body 84 of the ejector button 80, and a proximalend that is pressed against an axially fixed portion of the channelmember 20, e.g., the drive member 62, the bearing 70, etc . . . The coilspring 94 is positioned to urge the ejector button 80 towards anadvanced position.

In embodiments, the ejector button 80 includes a distal gripping surface98 (FIG. 4). In some embodiments, the distal gripping surface 98includes a plurality of raised ribs 100.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the ejector button 80 is positioned to movebetween the advanced position (FIG. 6) and a retracted position (FIG. 7)by pressing on or releasing the ejector button 80. In the advancedposition, the upper surface 86 of the body 84 of the ejector button 80is engaged with the lower surface 56 of the distal portion 52 of thestaple cartridge 22. In the advanced position of the ejector knob 80,the staple cartridge 22 is supported within the cavity 28 of the channelmember 20. When the ejector button 80 is moved in the directionindicated by the arrow “A” in FIG. 7 to the retracted position, thelower surface 56 of the distal portion 52 of the staple cartridge 22 isurged upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow “B” in FIG. 7 to liftthe distal portion 52 of the staple cartridge 22 from the cavity 28 ofthe channel member 20. Operation of the ejector button 80 lifts thedistal portion 52 of the staple cartridge 22 from the cavity 28 of thechannel member 20 to allow a clinician to remove a spent staplecartridge 22 from the cavity 28 and replace it with a fresh staplecartridge 22.

Although the cartridge ejector assembly 76 is shown supported on apowered type end effector 10 which includes a driven screw shaft 64, itis envisioned that the ejector assembly could be easily incorporatedinto the end effector of a manually powered stapling device such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methodsspecifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned thatthe elements and features illustrated or described in connection withone exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and featuresof another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features andadvantages of the disclosure based on the above-described embodiments.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has beenparticularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An end effector for a surgical stapling devicecomprising: an anvil having a first tissue contact surface defining aplane; a multiple use loading unit including pivotally secured to theanvil, the multiple use loading unit including a channel member defininga cavity and a staple cartridge received within the cavity, the staplecartridge having a body having a second tissue contact surface anddefining a knife slot and a plurality of staple receiving slotspositioned on opposite sides of the knife slot, the staple cartridgehaving a distal portion having a lower surface that is angled towardsthe plane defined by the first tissue contact surface in a distaldirection; and an ejector assembly including an ejector button supportedon the channel member and being movable from an advanced position to aretracted position in relation to the channel member, the ejector buttonhaving a body including an upper surface that is angled towards theplane defined by the first tissue contact surface in the distaldirection, the upper surface of the body of the ejector button beingpositioned to engage the lower surface of the distal portion of thestaple cartridge such that movement of the ejector button from theadvanced position to the retracted position lifts the distal portion ofthe staple cartridge from the cavity of the channel member.
 2. The endeffector of claim 1, wherein the ejector assembly includes a biasingmember positioned between the body of the ejector button and the staplecartridge, the biasing member being positioned to urge the ejectorbutton to the advanced position.
 3. The end effector of claim 2, whereinthe channel member includes a distal portion having a recess and theejector button includes a guide member that is received within therecess to guide movement of the ejector button between the advanced andretracted positions.
 4. The end effector of claim 3, wherein the recessand the guide member are configured to limit the ejector button tolinear movement.
 5. The end effector of claim 3, wherein the guidemember includes a protrusion that is configured to retain the guidemember within the recess.
 6. The end effector of claim 2, wherein theejector body includes a support member that supports the biasing member.7. The end effector of claim 2, wherein the support member iscylindrical and the biasing member includes a coil spring, wherein adistal portion of the coil spring is received about the support member.8. The end effector of claim 2, wherein the end effector includes adrive screw and a clamping member supported within the cavity of thechannel member, the clamping member being supported on the drive screwsuch that rotation of the drive screw advances the clamping memberwithin the cavity.
 9. The end effector of claim 8, wherein the clampingmember supports a knife blade.
 10. The end effector of claim 2, whereinthe ejector button includes a distal gripping surface.
 11. The endeffector of claim 2, wherein the distal gripping surface includes aplurality of raised ribs.
 12. The end effector of claim 2, wherein thedistal portion of the staple cartridge includes an upper surface that iscontiguous with the first tissue contact surface and extends in adirection away from the plane of the first tissue contact surface.